Farrands, Marsdens, Maypole, Dewhurst, VG, Vernons, etc


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A friend of mine’s father was a rep for Richardson’s in the 50’s. They provided him with a green Ford van and I think he did shop deliveries as well. Their Nottingham depot was on Queen’s Rd. and they also had depots in Mansfield and Newark. I don’t know whether they traded nationally.

 

Apparently the Nottingham base was on Castle Boulevard. I can’t find much more about them and whether they were taken over.

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By Request then.............. Like all other aspects of my Teen years,at Marsdens,loved doing deliverys to customers on the Granville with big Basket..no gears and hardwork up the hills of Bestwo

Next delivery was Mrs Taylor....who lived 2 doors from me on Andover road  .......knew her all my life...even Babysat me when i was a little un....a very formidable lady had 5 kids all much older than

Last delivery to Mrs Timberlake...Hucknall road..... Morning Mrs T....Where you want me to put your Order ? Just leave it on the Hall Table Ben...How much is it ?  (she was a customer that p

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I'll wager Mrs Pettigrew wasn't her real name!

 

Two of my maternal uncles lived in Beeston. One lived in Endsleigh Gardens which in the 30s, after his marriage, was a brand new house. Endsleigh Gardens was, at that time, a gated community. The gate gave access to High Road, Beeston and every resident had a key which they used when they went shopping. Vehicle access was at the other end of Endsleigh Gardens.

 

Years ago my mother, who as a child was a frequent visitor to the houses of both her uncles, showed me where this access onto High Road had been. The gate was long gone but the space where it had been was still there.

 

The uncle who lived there had a wife who, in the opinion of his family, "Thought she was Lady Muck" despite having sprung from very humble origins in Derbyshire. She rarely visited shops in person but telephoned her orders in and expected instant delivery, rather as Ben described.

 

Sadly, I never met that particular uncle, nor his wife, but I was told by my father who was Beeston born that she was well known in that area for her airs and graces.  She lived to well in her 90s and spent the rest of her life in the same house.

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YES it really was Mrs Pettigrew Jill     didnt think need to change the name as she was in her 80's back then........bless her

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Returning to my favourite subject...Marsdens/Farrands  early 60s before any were self service....When we served the customers from behind the counter and the inter acting with them was vital....

All the stores had large windows that were always dressed every two weeks when the ''Special Offers changed''''.....Used to really enjoy doing that.......we would stack whatever the product was in an attractive way to catch any passing trade......could be Baked Beans...Tarrantella Tomatoes...John West Salmon...or any product really....no Pyramid stacking was allowed,,,had to be in Blocks.......Cereals and Toilet rolls were easy big items stacked never took long....once dressed we had to hand draw/write a Ticket to go on each product....Felt pens were used...but they had to look good.....because the area managers came round and checked....by the time we had dressed and cleaned the huge windows plus fixing the new print posters on the window,,,,the monday was almost over.....

                Then on Tuesday morning the customers started arriving to see what the latest offers were....this applied generally in places like Radford..St Anns...Lenton.Basford...Meadows.Netherfield..Bulwell and all the council estates,,

           The banter then ensued   ....loved the customers of those times...they would moan at you..threaten and sometimes swear about prices but 99 per cent would leave with a laugh or witty remark......Job satisfaction..no Problem..........

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Probably not Cliff Ton...........but i'd catch all their Shoplifters and have a fun time doing it.......would have to do it with the aid of a colleague now...who could do the ''Grabbing and the odd Wrestle...

                     All i would do would be the first confrontation'''

'''Ey up Youth...i'm a Store Detective you have several bottles of Spirits up your jumper and down ya trousers''' so come with us,,By the way was you with that large lady who left at the same time after 'Crutching''' a 4lb Chicken ?,

                     My Aid would then escort him back........

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Someone told me recently that the ASDA in Hyson Green now has such a problem with beggars lurking outside that there are plain clothes police patrolling the car park! In addition, you have to pass through a device which detects bladed weapons before you go in. Incredible! They demolished those neat little streets of terraced housing to end up with that?

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Had a crazy month in there Jill a few years back...was threatened with a knife,,a Baseball Bat,,a broken bottle..and recieved a bit of a kicking....apart from all that enjoyed it......lol

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Do you want me to relate a morning on the Granville bike from Marsdens Andover road ?

When i was sweet 16

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By Request then..............

Like all other aspects of my Teen years,at Marsdens,loved doing deliverys to customers on the Granville with big Basket..no gears and hardwork up the hills of Bestwood estate........

                  This Particular friday morning i only had 4 deliverys to make...and they were some of my favourite customers....there boxes fitted easily into the Basket......

              The first was Mrs Griffiths on Gainsford crescent..big family and lovely with it.......

Morning Mrs Griffiths.. you ok  ?

Not bad Ben...you want a cuppa?

Go on then,,wheres Beryl and Joey ?

Still in bed lazy buggers..(.she said laughing )

 

Whilst drinking me Tea Beryl came down,,she was/is a couple of years younger than me....always fancied her but knew she would turn me down..but will try one day,,,

 

Mrs Griffths was emptying her shopping...and said ''oh great you got me a Bacon Hock this week...are they still a shilling?

Yes still a 'Bob'' mrs G...

Look Beryl Bacon hock and only a shilling..

Yes Mam..seen it,,looks like Ben's nose....(laughing)

Put me off my mood...knew she didnt fancy me,,

Finished me Tea...thanks Mrs G  See ya later Beryl   ...and off i went.......Mrs Taylor next on Andover road...Tell you later...

 

 

 

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Never did date Beryl ...but years later... 80s became neighbours and her and Donna are friends......Beryl married a nice chap and have been together many years .....still Bump into them from time to time in Bulwell............

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Next delivery was Mrs Taylor....who lived 2 doors from me on Andover road  .......knew her all my life...even Babysat me when i was a little un....a very formidable lady had 5 kids all much older than me....

Morning Mrs T got your Grocery's (i said,,knocking on her open back door...))

Come in Ben...put me order on side of sink..and Kettles just boiled,,,so make us both a cup of Tea..no sugar in mine....

 

Her youngest son Trevor had been in a bad Motor accident a few months before and was badly scarred for life...i asked how he was,,and enquired about all the family...over having my cup of Tea with her.....

Said tat ta see you later...

 

Used to really like Mrs Taylor.....she passed many years ago at a good old age...and Trevor her youngest up until about 6 years ago (when he sadly died as well)  i used to meet for Breakfast in Morrisons Bulwell.......

 

Anyway Mabel Thorpe next delivery.......in a bit

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My 3rd Delivery was the other side of the tracks onto Hucknall road...to the lovely Miss Mabel Thorpe...a single lady in her late 5os who lived on Orville road.....she also worked in Marsdens/Farrands head Offtce on Wigman road......

 

Morning Miss Thorpe..you ok ?

Hello Ben...i;m good thanks,,,on holiday this week...

Have you been or done owt ?

No just relaxed mostly reading,,and a couple of walks across 'Common'' into Bulwell...

All alright at Head Office?

Yes was talking to Mr Vaughan about you...(she said smiling,,Mr Vaughan was the General Manager)

Nothing bad i hope?

Far from it...he will be coming to see you...

 

Had another cup of tea with her and more small talk...before bidding her Tat ta.........Mr Vaughan a big Yorkshireman and Father of one of the 'Paper Lace group'' did indeed come to see me......and it led to the start of my many travels for them and many happy exploits........so i think i owe a lot to the lovely Miss Thorpe......

 

One Delivery left down Hucknall road near Marble Arch to Mrs Timberlake.....................In a bit  

              

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No Cliff Ton.........all the names ive used are real people inc,,Miss Mabel Thorpe........lol

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Last delivery to Mrs Timberlake...Hucknall road.....

Morning Mrs T....Where you want me to put your Order ?

Just leave it on the Hall Table Ben...How much is it ?  (she was a customer that paid cash on delivery)

£8-12-6

Can;t offer you Tea Ben .in a hurry going out,,,,

 

At that she paid me and we said  Tat Ta..........

 

Just a couple of hundred yards back to Marsdens,,,Manager Mr Richards said..you only made 4 deliverys and been gone all bleddy morning......

I know...sorry Boss...just cant get away from some of em....

OK put kettle on...not had a drink all morning...he said.....

Couldnt tell him i;d had 3 cups of Tea....lol

 

Happy Days...terrific people...love to go back and do it all again...

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Still on about the Granville bike........never recall having it mended.... Lad from Valley road Marsdens came to work at Andover for a week.....and was sent to do deliverys.....

                  Unfortunately the brakes failed him going down the very steep 'Hove road'' he shot down across Andover thru Mrs Seatons hedge landing in her Garden...........really funny   even Mrs Seaton was laughing.............

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  • 4 weeks later...

Remember when shops in Nottingham closed Half day on Thursdays?

           Hard to believe now with many shops open 7 days a week..

            Got me thinking to my days in the 60s at Marsdens/Farrands....and what we did on Thursday afternoons..

            Whatever you did it was never crowded because apart from Shop workers everyone else was at work.....there was even a Thursday football league..which i played in for Notts Corinthians...it was ran and sponsored by Redmayne and  Todd...It was played to a good standard with teams such as City and County Police plus a Nottingham Forest A or B side ..and i recall playing against a good few young players who later became household names at Forest...

                    The only friends you could really mix with on Thursday afternoons were other Shop workers...and my old school friend Keith (Columbo) worked for the Coop....so together we had many good Thursdays.........we would catch a train to anywhere just to see new places........Coventry and the Cathedral being one...and obviously we dated girls who were also Shop workers.....our favourite place to take them was the Embankment for a Row down the Trent and Tea at the Little T bar that was there at the time........Sometimes Keith would bring his Portable record player and we'd play records with our cup of Tea and even danced with the lucky girl of the day.......

                   Enjoy Waxing Lyrical about by-gone days......

 

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  • Cliff Ton changed the title to Farrands, Marsdens, Maypole, Dewhurst, VG, Vernons, etc

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